Importance of genetic profiling and a tribute to Dr Judah Folkman

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Published: 24 Nov 2011
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Prof Norman Wolmark - Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, USA

Prof Norman Wolmark speaks about the importance Dr Judah Folkman, the work he did in the initial development of antiangiogenic therapies and discusses the role of genetic profiling in cancer therapy. Genetic profiling helps clinicians target patient populations and to determine who is at risk and who will benefit from specific therapies. Prof Wolmark discusses an assay instigated by the NSABP and Genomic Health in California for node negative ER positive breast cancer patients. The procedure is now used in 60% of these patients across America and allows clinicians to identify high risk patients who have the strongest benefit to chemotherapy. This understanding helps avoid the costs and adverse effects associated with unnecessary treatments.